Harbhajan vs Symonds - Cricketers but not Gentlemen

It's been a controversy to say the least, something that could even have been expected on an Australian tour.Things were said in the Sydney Test and charges were brought on Harbhajan Singh, who allegedly racially abused Andrew Symonds by calling him a "monkey".

Harbhajan has been cleared of the racial abuse part but will be penalized for a lower classification of abuse as he did plead guilty to using some abusive language.

I sometimes wonder what has happened to the gentleman's game. It used to be that cricket was a game and nothing more. There was an element of respect and a good delivery was acknowledged by the batsman, while a good shot was acknowledged by the bowler, all in good spirits. Umpires would intervene only to conduct the game, the batsman would walk if he knew he had hit the ball.

So where has that game gone now? Has competition, sponsorship and commercialization made it ungentlemanly in some way? The game has grown in popularity and it might just be because of the gossip and antics by different players and officials.

You never know, it might just be a way to hype up a series or generate more revenue from newspapers and websites. But it's not cricket any more, a huge money factor is involved as well.

With Twenty20 and day-night Test matches coming into the frame and more money getting into the game, has cricket lost its charm? I sincerely hope not.

Is cricket too commercialised? What do you think...?

Don't Forget to Live

Adam Gilchrist - The Last Hurrah

Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicket-keeper batsman, just announced his retirement from both Tests and ODIs after the upcoming one-day series. A good time to comment on a great cricketing career.

The guy who renamed the role of a wicket-keeper and brought in another kind of an all-rounder to the game who was the "wicket-keeper batsman". Gone are the days when a team is looking for a guy who can just keep wickets and bat at 7 or 8 after the one off all-rounder. Gilly got in the game and brought in the explosive style of batting at the top in ODIs and a similar nature in the middle-order in Tests. He was the man to have in any World XI.

At the retirement of Ian Healy, one of the greatest wicket-keepers himself, the Aussies were looking for the next flag bearer. Least did we expect that the flag bearer would not only take it from Healy but also make it more brighter along the way. This guy is an crucial member of the Aussie Dream Team which won 16 tests in a row twice and a series of World Cups. The recent Aussie team spells domination of World Cricket for over a decade now.

Well-defined behind the stumps and the "Here-she-comes-there-she-goes attitude" while batting made him an essential member of the Aussie Rule. Played vice-captain for a little while in his career as well and many would have loved to see him as captain as well but he has done it all besides achieving that. A well-accomplished career which deserves a salute to another great who played his part in revolutionizing the game.

Dont Compare Yourself With Anyone...

I read a quote some place which goes as follows,

"Don't compare yourself with anyone in this world. If you do so, you are insulting yourself." - Alan Strike

I do not know who Alan Strike is but the thought is beautiful and much in line with my beliefs as well. I believe Allah made us all different for a reason. Every single person in this world adds a distinct flavour to this place we call 'The World'. Even if you pick up twins you will notice they are different. So one shouldn't compare himself, or for that matter anyone, with someone else. We are not made to be the same. There would be no use if everybody was the same.

It would be insulting to yourself if you start thinking that you should have been somebody else or you should try and become someone else. Firstly, its not possible and secondly if you do manage to become someone else then who would fill the gap that you would have created. That gap is to be filled by you and you only. As I have written earlier also, its a world with cause-and-effect. That hole could have its different repercussions.

Everybody is here for a reason and one of the first jobs we should get on is not to work in the best multinational company in the world but rather towards finding out that reason. Why am I here? Whats my role?

Only when you are able to answer the above will you start focusing towards the correct route and the useful route. Success then follows. You can be that expected somebody.

Just while writing this post, I just remembered my school principal and with that the famous line "It's OK to be different..." which is on her office door. You read it while you enter into her office. I have already written about this before so am linking it to this one again.

Be yourself, everybody else is already taken.... :)

Lebron James - Mr. Fourth Quarter does it again

Lebron James is the self-proclaimed "Mr. Fourth Quarter" but nobody can deny the fact that King delivers wherever he goes. He was required with 33.6 second left against the champion San Antonio Spurs and he answered the call as he has been doing throughout his career.

The shot led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 90-88 win against their last year NBA Final rivals. A much needed win which should set them back on the track they followed last year which ended at the NBA finals.

The Cavs had Tony Parker to thank for his two crucial missed free throws with 29.4 left on the clock. Manu Ginobili had a shot in the dying seconds and James and the Cavaliers would have breathed a sigh of relief with the missed shot as that would have taken them to a fourth overtime in 3 games.

The Cavs played well defensively and that was the difference in the end. It is important to remember that the San Antonio Spurs swept the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last year. The Cavs are now on a 3-win streak and would like to continue the good work ahead. They are a championship team and its about time they come to the party.

Laxman - The Thorn in the Aussie Back

V.V.S. Laxman proved again why he is the world's top run-getter against Australia in Australia. A gutsy 79 against some fiery pace from Brett Lee saw the Indian team set up a potential record run chase of 413 runs in the last innings for the 17th straight test win for the Australian team.

Moved down the order, Laxman proved once again why the Aussies fear him so much. This wasn't a free flowing Laxman innings that one usually remembers him for against the Aussies. He had to dig out his runs and 2 late partnerships with Dhoni (38) and R.P. Singh (30) set up what could be a match-winning target.

The hosts closed at 65 for the loss of both the openers. This left the strong Aussie middle order to chase a further 348 runs while still 2 full days to play. With Ponting and Hussey at the crease right now, a lot depends on a steady start tomorrow if they stand any chance in chasing this record target.

By the way things are, one can surely believe that it might not go till the last day as with Indians surely with the wind behind their backs would want to wrap things up quickly. On the other hand the only way the Aussies play these days is quick and if they do get off to a flyer, the only way they can make the Indian go on the back foot is with a counter-attack suggesting the run-chase getting over in 1 day.

A lot to play for considering what has happened during the series. An unlikely bowling attack consisting of Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma and R.P. Singh surprised the formidable Aussie batting lineup in the 1st inning and Pathan continued the good work in the 2nd inning getting both openers in the 5th and the 9th over of the innings respectively.

A win for the Indians would go a long way in proving what they have been standing against during the series as well as stopping the Aussies from a record 17th straight test win. A record they would regret not reaching.

An Aussie win which looks a lower chance at the 3rd day's close would really underline their dominance in world cricket killing the biggest 4th inning run-chase record and 17th straight test win with one stone. However, easier said than done.

Makings of a happening day tomorrow.

All my world in a Raindrop

I have never been a fan of rains or the cold. I am more of a summery and sunshine guy but one can't avoid the other moods of the weather either. Everyone must have found one way or the other about the rains in UAE these last few days. The crazy rains and the floods. But this isn't a post about them.

Its more about what the long drives home these last few days led me to remember about the rain when I was a kid. As the rain poured onto my car windows I was able to see raindrops pouring down. Going back in time when I used to sit and see the rain on the car windows when mom was driving through it. How each raindrop had a world in itself. The colours would lead me to a chain of thoughts that I used to get as a kid seeing through them. The thought would last from the time the raindrop hit the window till the time it dripped down till the end of it. Then I would catch another thought in another raindrop from the top.

Each raindrop, a world of its own. In our daily lives, we come across a term called "dejavu". Has anybody wondered when could they have had the thought or caught a glimpse of a future happening which has come to them now as "dejavu". It couldn't be the recent past as you would have remembered otherwise. It had to be some time....way back. Maybe when we were kids?

I know nothing seems like it connects up there....but it does. It might not be raindrops for you, it may be a boring classroom lecture, or a dinner time with a non-favourite vegetable. Anything that led you to a chain of thoughts when you were kids and let to a "dejavu" now that you are a grown up.

All this life, each instance, each thing that happens is linked. You may realize it or not realize but everything that happens has an effect. The cause and effect rule applies to every-body's lives. It becomes interesting when you actually start looking through it.

Roddick Exits in a 5-Set Thriller

The Australian Open 2008 was hit with its first major shock with Andy Roddick going out in a thrilling 5-setter against Philipp Kohlschreiber, the German. The score for the record, 4-6 6-3 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-3) 6-8.

The 6th seeded Roddick went down to the 29th seed Kohlschreiber on the 5th match point in the 5th set. Both coming from HOT Streaks, promised an interesting contest considering an un-noted rivalry from the Aussie Open in 2005 where the German had gone out in the 4th round against Roddick. That was Kohlschreiber best career grand slam performance and he equalled it with this win.
He faces Jarkko Nieminen seeded 24th in the 4th around and possible meet-up with Rafael Nadal in the quarters. Interesting prospect ahead for the German.

It's Not About How Hard You Can Hit...

I was finally able to watch the much desired movie of my movie-watching life. "Rocky Balboa" is the 6th in the Rocky Series and it did not disappoint at all. It may be because I am such a big fan of the character that I try to base my life on the projections made in the movie.

No that doesn't mean that I am a boxer which the average movie goer assumes. I have heard comments from people when I ask "Have you watched any of the Rocky movies?". I get a lot of "I don't like boxing movies, they are filled with violence and not the right thing...." etc. Those people don't deserve to watch Rocky anyway cos even if they do, they just wont get it.

The character Rocky Balboa and the movie series is not a series about boxing at all in fact. Its more about life. In fact its more about life than life itself. Its about how we are all fighters in the ring of life. Each one fighting their own battles and it's the heart, the stronger heart that prevails. Its the heart that keeps us getting up again from each punch taken. Its the heart that keeps you fighting that one more fight. Just that one more. It keeps getting you going on through all the hardships in life.

I am just a huge fan of the series and call me whatever you want, I am. I have taken lessons from the series and try and implement it in every walk of life. Hey if I had the chance I wouldn't mind being him, of course I couldn't ever be.

Before writing anything more, I will mark this one as a tribute to Sly, the guy who has affected my life in more ways than one by just making such a great series of movies. I will leave you with one of the lessons I learnt from this last movie.

"Its not about how hard you hit....its about how hard you can GET hit and still stand up..."

God lives in the Hearts

I was listening to Abida Parveen which is by the way my favourite past times. Here is another beautiful verse from one of our beautiful Sufi poets, Baba Bulley Shah, brought to us by Abida Parveen.

Masjid Dha Day, Mandar Dha day, Dha day jo kuch Dhainda Aay

Par Kisi da dil na Dhaween, Rab Dilan Wich Rehnda Aay

Here is how it translates,

"You can go and demolish the Masjids (Muslims religious place of prayer), you can go and demolish the Mandirs (Hindus religious place of prayer). You can go and demolish anything that comes to your path, but don't demolish/hurt a heart cos God lives in it."

In this day and age of people going against each other because of religion, beliefs and for a lot of the matter politics, dont realize that its the people who suffer. The common man is not happy when anything that disturbs the routine life hinders. If he is unable to provide for his family, can't go to work he is not happy at all. It doesn't matter what goes on around the world if he is unable to get the basic responsibilities done because of the stuff happening around him.

Think again, it doesn't make a damn difference if people go around demolishing the religious places or worldly things when God and His Faith lives within the hearts. Don't break a heart cos God lives within hearts.

The 2.5% Make the Difference

This post is about one of the most inspiring few words I heard in my little which had immediate effect on me. These words are from my great Saas, yes my mother-in-law. Don't be surprised, you just have to keep your eyes and mind open to get inspired and it may come from any source. By the way, my mother-in-law is a Masters in Political Science and in one her our moody moments, she read out a few lines from an essay she had written a few months back. This post is also a tribute to her.

Here is what she said "Its the 2.5% of the water on this earth that makes the difference. It is this 2.5% that evaporates and flies high into the sky to the clouds and then when it rains it reaches the top of the mountains and comes back down to the ground. Its actually just this 2.5% of water that is running this whole world's show."

Come to think of it, we don't need a revolution which requires all 100% of the people on this earth to change things. Its only 2.5%. So whoever gets the slightest of intention to bring out a change, just go and do it. Its better to be part of the few good than the ignoring majority. Cos its only these 2.5% that are required to change the world into something better.

When only 2.5% of the water on this earth can run the whole show that we see, day in and day out, why can't we find the 2.5% people who can make about the change. Determine your role and play it. Be part of the 2.5% that runs the show and directs the traffic to something better. That is all that is required friends...that is all...That is required.

Salutations to the thinker on what a beautiful thought and the great words selected to transfer the emotions into something understandable for us normal people. Just beautiful, whoever reads this, do share it. Even if you didn't feel an emotion, if it can reach the right people and if it keeps circulating and you might have just played your part in preparing the 2.5% who are going to make this world a better place.